Fruit-gase



(No Model.)

J. T. CORNFORTH.

FRUIT CASE.

N0. 496,818. Patented M ay 2, 1893.

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 496,818, dated May 2, 1893.

Application led August 3l, 1892. Serial No. 444,618. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osnPH T. CORNFORTH, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit-Cases; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon,whieh form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in boxes, crates or cases designed for use in the shipmentor transportation of fruit and vegetables and the object of the invention is to provide a receptacle of the class stated which shall be simple in construction and economical in cost, convenient and practicable in use as well as reliable and safe for the purpose stated.

To these ends the invention consists of the features, arrangements and combinations hereinafterdescribed and claimed and will be fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure lis an end view of my improved case. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Figs. 3 and 4 are sections taken on lines .fc-, Fig. 2 showing two different constructions. Fig. 5 is afragmentary longitudinal section taken on line @/-y, Fig. 4.

Similar reference characters indicating corresponding parts or elements of the mechanism in the several views let the numeral 5 designate the body of the case and 6 the cover therefor. These parts of the case are composed of ends 5a and 6a respectively, connected by slats 7 which are secured to the ends by nails or screws. The ends of the two parts of the case are so fashioned that when the cover is in place, as shown in Fig. l they form two polygonal heads in the completed box. The ends 5a of the body of the case are provided with cleats 8 nailed to the inner surface of said ends and projecting above the same to engage the corresponding surface of theends of the cover when the latter is in place. As shown in the drawings, cleats 8 are of sufiicient length and properly fashioned to iit nicely between the slats of the cover. Hence the cleats lock the cover from moving either longitudinally7 or laterally upon the case body. The cover may also be locked from lateral movement by placing the nail or pin l0 in each end thereof, the same being so located as to engage a correspondingly located notch 12 formed in the cleat.

As shown in the drawings, the coveris composed of three slats 7 attached tothe ends 6, the ends of the cleats 8 engaging the inner surface of the central slat and the inner edges of the side slats. By the use of the nails l0 in the cover ends engaging the notches 12in the cleats, the latter may be made narrower than when they must be of sufficient width to reach between the edges of the two slats as just explained. Hence from a standpoint of economy in material the nail and notch construction is preferable to the other. The cover is further secured in place upon the body of the case by a binding cord 15 preferably located vmidway between the heads of the case and drawn therearound sufficiently tight to compress the slats and give the outer surface of the case a slight concavity or depression gradually increasing from the heads toward the center of the location of the binding cord where it is greatest. Hence this cord not only holds the cover in place but also binds the slats and prevents their ends from working loose from the heads during transportation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl. A box or crate composed of two parts each consisting of ends connected by slats or staves by the use of nails or screws, the ends of one part being provided with cleats projecting therefrom and adapted to engage the ends of the other part and iit between two of the staves to prevent lateral movement, the cleats of one part being provided with notches and the ends of the other part with pins to engage the same, substantially as described.

2. A box or crate consisting of two parts each composed of ends connected by slats or staves, the ends of one part being provided with transverse cleats projecting therefrom and adapted to engage the inner surfaceof the ends of the other and fit nicely between IOO the edges of two of the staves, substantially as described.

3. A box or crate composed of two parts, each consisting of ends connected by slats or staves, the ends of one part being provided with transverse cleats projecting therefrom and adapted to engage the ends of the other part, the cleats of one part being provided with notches to receive pins with which the ends of the other part are provided, substantially as described.

4. A box or crate composed of two parts each consisting of ends connected by slats or s taves, the ends of one part being provided with cleats projecting therefrom and adapted 15 to engage the ends of the other part and Iit between two of the staves to prevent lateral movement, and a binding cord or brace surrounding the case and giving the same a slight concavity or depression between the zo heads, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH T. CORNFORTH.

Witnesses: y

WM. MCCONNE'LL, C. A. HULL. 

